University of Massachusets Athletics

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Paul Gorham Named Football Recruiting Coordinator

Whipple's former assistant at Brown also to serve as offensive line coach.

December 23, 1997

AMHERST, Mass. - Paul Gorham has been named the new recruiting coordinator / offensive line coach for the University of Massachusetts football team, it was announced today by Head Coach Mark Whipple. Gorham joins the UMass staff after serving for four years as the offensive line coach at Brown University under Whipple.

During his four-year stint at Brown, Gorham helped develop the Brown offensive line into one of the top units in I-AA. He produced two first-team All-Ivy League offensive linemen in his four seasons (Rene Abdalah, 1994 - also an Academic All-American; Dan McClutchy, 1997). Gorham was also instrumental in recruiting Sean Morey, Brown's first Ivy League Player of the Year (1997). Last year, the Brown offense set Ivy League and school records for total offense (474.3 ypg) and Brown records for single-season first downs (233), passing yards (317.9 ypg) and single-game total offense (629 yards vs. Yale).

Prior to coming to Brown, Gorham served for six years under Whipple as the recruiting coordinator / offensive line coach at the University of New Haven. While at New Haven, he helped develop 1994 Division II Player of the Year Roger Graham and three additional first-team All-Americans in Harry Boatswain (now with San Francisco 49ers), Rob Thompson (1988) and Scott Emmert (1992). The Chargers achieved national rankings on four occasions with an offense that led all NCAA Divisions in total offense (587.7 ypg) and scoring offense (52.5 ppg) in 1992. Gorham also served as an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire for two seasons when Whipple was the offensive coordinator.

"Paul and I have been working together for 12 years, so we know each other very well on both a personal and professional level," said Whipple. "He has developed strong recruiting ties to the high school coaches in Massachusetts and throughout New England, and has national connections in Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey."

A 1984 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Gorham was an All-Yankee Conference tight end in 1983 for the Wildcats. He and his wife, Noreen, have a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Emma.

Whipple assumed the head coaching job on December 16. Gorham is the second assistant coach named to Whipple's staff. Don Brown was announced as defensive coordinator on December 22. Whipple hopes to finalize his coaching staff by the first of January.